Published: October 26, 2023, 08:15h.
Last updated: October 26, 2023, 08:15h.
San Francisco 49rs quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a head injury in a recent game against the Minnesota Vikings during “Monday Night Football”. Should Purdy not pass concussion protocol in time, Sam Darnold will step in as the starting quarterback for the 49ers in their upcoming game.
The 49ers have lost their last two games after starting the season with five consecutive wins. The Cleveland Browns ended their winning streak in Week 6, followed by a loss against the Vikings in Week 7.
This Sunday, the 49ers will play against the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. The Bengals, who have won two games in a row, aim to bounce back from their 0-2 start.
Purdy Sustains Head Injury on MNF
Purdy had a stat line of 21-of-30 passes completed for 272 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 22-17 loss against the Vikings on “Monday Night Football”. Purdy managed to finish the game without any issues.
Although Purdy avoided significant hits, there are replays suggesting a potential head injury on one of his quarterback sneaks in the second half, when he collided with Minnesota linebacker Jordan Hicks.
“Brock started getting symptoms on the plane,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “We finally found that out when we landed. We were all pretty asleep, but then he got all checked up yesterday and now he’s in the protocol.”
This season, Purdy has completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,668 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also scored two rushing touchdowns. In terms of QBR, Purdy is currently ranked #2 on ESPN with a rating of 75.6.
Next Man Up: Sam Darnold
If Purdy is unable to play in Week 8, Sam Darnold will take over as the starting quarterback. Darnold joined the 49ers in the offseason and initially expected to be the third-stringer behind Purdy and Trey Lance in the competition for the starting position.
During training camp, it became clear that Purdy would be named the starter over Lance. It was surprising to many insiders when Darnold was designated as the official backup, with Lance being relegated to third string. Eventually, the 49ers traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys.
Darnold was the third-overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has started 55 games in his career with the Jets and the Carolina Panthers, holding a 21-34 record as a starter. Last season with the Panthers, he started six games and went 4-2.
The 49ers also have Brandon Allen on their roster, who will serve as the backup quarterback behind Darnold if Purdy is unable to play this week.
Betting on the Banged-Up 49ers
In Week 8, the 49ers will face the Bengals. Joe Burrow, who had previously dealt with a calf injury, seems to have recovered well and showcased his old form in back-to-back wins for the Bengals. The Bengals are also coming off their bye week, arriving in Northern California well-rested.
The 49ers are favored by -3.5 points against the Bengals. The line initially opened at -6, but it moved more than two points after Purdy entered the concussion protocol.
This season, the 49ers have a 4-3 record against the spread (ATS), while the Bengals are 2-3-1 ATS, covering the spread in their last two games.
Currently in first place in the NFC West, the 49ers are considered the favorites to win the division with -500 odds. They hold a slight edge over the Seattle Seahawks (+450), while the Los Angeles Rams (+1800) and the Arizona Cardinals (+15000) are considered long shots.
Despite their recent two-game slump, the 49ers are the betting favorites to win the NFC Championship with +200 odds. They are slightly ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles (+240), who defeated them in last year’s NFC title game.
The Kansas City Chiefs currently possess the best record in the NFL at 6-1, and interestingly, they remain undefeated whenever Taylor Swift attends their games. The Chiefs have reclaimed the top spot on the NFL futures board at DraftKings, with +450 odds of winning Super Bowl LVIII, just ahead of the 49ers at +475.